Baptista sends battling Malaga top in Spain
Tim Hanlon
A superb overhead kick in injury time from Julio Baptista completed a
spectacular turnaround for Malaga who scored twice in the last four
minutes to beat Getafe 3-2 on Saturday and take top spot in La Liga.
Malaga dominated the first half without creating a clear-cut chance
and then after the break Pedro Leon put the visitors ahead with an
excellent volley from distance.
Ruud van Nistelrooy then headed Malaga level but Nicolas Miku
controversially restored Getafe’s advantage with a header which also
came off his hand. Malaga appeared to be heading for defeat before Enzo
Maresca slotted home in the 88th minute and then two minutes into injury
time Baptista acrobatically gave them the three points.
Malaga have 13 points, the same as Valencia, but lead on goal
difference.
At the top
Their stay at the top may be brief, however, with the likes of Real
Betis and Barcelona both playing on Sunday.
An early strike from Sergio Canales gave Valencia a 1-0 victory over
Granada, the club’s first win in three matches.
Valencia returned to winning ways after a draw against Barcelona and
defeat by Sevilla.
Canales gave Valencia the perfect start with an angled strike from
the edge of the area after just three minutes.
Valencia piled on the pressure early on with keeper Roberto Fernandez
saving Granada on several occasions notably from Roberto Soldado and
Ever Banega but the visitors gradually came into the game with Daniel
Benitez their main danger.
In the second half Roberto continued to be the busier keeper but his
opposite number Vicente Guaita also got down to save well from Hassan
Yebda and then minutes later Inigo Lopez hit the post.
Three points
“We are happy with the three points but there are things that we need
to improve on like maintaining possession of the ball,” said Valencia
coach Unai Emery.
“These are the points which at the end of the season can make the
difference in whether you achieve your aims or not.” Granada coach Fabri
Gonzalez refused to criticise his players.
“I don’t have anything negative to say about my team as they played
an extraordinary match and deserved more against one of the best teams
in Spain,” he said.
Substitute Hernan Perez snatched a late equaliser for Villarreal
whose poor start to the season continued with a 2-2 draw at home to
Zaragoza.
Considered by many as the only team capable of pushing Barcelona and
Real Madrid in the league they have struggled so far with only one
victory in all competitions.
Stronger
Coming into the game on the back of a 2-0 Champions League defeat by
Napoli, Villarreal began the stronger but Luis Garcia gave Zaragoza the
lead against the run of play.
Giuseppe Rossi brought Villarreal back on level terms from the
penalty spot but the visitors went into the break ahead with Pablo
Barrera scoring from another counter-attack.
In an open game Villarreal earned a point through Perez nine minutes
from the end.
Two penalties from Tomer Hemed gave Mallorca a 2-2 draw away to
Osasuna.
Miguel Angel Nadal took charge of the team following Michael
Laudrup’s resignation in midweek and Hemed put Mallorca in front with a
spot kick but Raul Garcia responded with two headed goals for Osasuna.
With 10 minutes to go Hemed kept his cool again from 12 yards to give
Mallorca a point.
Racing Santander drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano with Raul Tamudo
scoring for the side from Madrid before Adrian Gonzalez equalised on the
hour mark.
Bottom
On Sunday, Barcelona travel to bottom of the table Sporting Gijon
still looking for their first away win of the season in La Liga after
draws against Real Sociedad and Valencia.
“To win the title you need to win a lot of matches away from home. We
are now faced with another very difficult game and it is down to us to
break this poor run,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Real responded after picking up just one point from two games with a
6-2 win over Rayo Vallecano and then beat Ajax 3-0 in the Champions
League.
They travel to Espanyol with Kaka restored to the starting eleven
after a long battle with injury and loss of form. “I feel a debt to the
club for always having stood by me, it would have been easier to leave
but I never considered that.
I have the dream of triumphing at Madrid and I want to achieve it,”
said the Brazilian.
MADRID, Sunday, AFP |